Page 124 of Ransom

I squeeze Ransom's hand. "She told me—she made me promise she wouldn't die in a hospital."

"Ms. Mckenna." The doctor's voice is kind but firm. "We're not at that point yet. Right now, she's stable. The immediate crisis has passed."

"But—"

"One step at a time," he says. "Let's focus on getting her comfortable and gathering all the information we need. Then we can discuss next steps."

Ransom's steady presence beside me keeps me grounded as I process the doctor's words. His thumb never stops its gentle motion against my skin.

"When can I see her?" I ask.

"Once we finish this round of tests and get her settled in a room. Should be about an hour." The doctor checks his watch. "Try to rest. It's going to be a long few days."

I nod, unable to form more words past the lump in my throat. The doctor gives us a sympathetic smile before heading back down the hallway.

"I can't do this again." My voice breaks as memories of Dad flood back. "I was right here, in a different hospital, a different doctor, but the same careful words. The same gentle tone."

Ransom guides me out the door, into a little alcove, away from prying eyes. His arms wrap around me, solid and secure. I let myself sink into him. Nothing between us is resolved. There is no plan. But still, I know deep in my gut that he's got me.

I can trust him.

"Dad got sick so fast. One day he was fine, working on Mrs. Peterson's Camaro. The next..." The tears flow freely now. I thought he was fine. Turns out that was another one of his lies. He knew he was sick. And I still don't know for how long. Just that he never bothered to tell me. To let me prepare. "Four days later, he was gone. Just gone."

"I'm here." Ransom's fingers thread through my hair, his breath warm against my temple.

"What if that's all I have with Maggie? Days?" My hands clutch his shirt. "Max needs her. I need her. She's supposed to see him graduate, go to college..."

"Let it out, sweetheart." His voice is low, steady.

"I'm not ready. I thought I was, but I'm not." The sobs wrack my body. "She made me promise she wouldn't die in a hospital, but what if?—"

"I got you. No matter what." Ransom's hand traces circles on my back. "We'll figure it out. Whatever comes next, you're not alone this time."

"I keep seeing Dad in that hospital bed. So small. He was never small before..." I press my face into Ransom's chest, breathing in his familiar scent. "I can't watch Maggie fade away like that. I can't..."

Ransom doesn't offer empty reassurances or try to stem my tears. He just holds me closer, murmuring soft words of comfort as I fall apart in his arms. His steady heartbeat under my ear grounds me, even as everything around me feels like it's falling apart.

"I'm scared," I whisper against his shirt. "I'm so scared."

His lips press against my hair. "I know, Baby. I know."

I pull back from Ransom's embrace, wiping my eyes. "Max will be asking questions soon. He's too smart for his own good sometimes."

"What do you want to tell him?"

"I don't—" My hands flutter uselessly. "He knows she's sick, but this is different. Should we tell him how bad it is? Would that just scare him more?"

"Hey." Ransom catches my restless hands. "Let's keep it simple for now. She got dizzy, needed some medicine. That's all he needs to know tonight."

"Right. Yes." I nod, then freeze. "Oh God, we don't have anything with us. No clothes, no toothbrushes. His stuffed penguin—he can't sleep without it. And Maggie's medications are all at home. We need?—"

"Blair." Ransom's voice cuts through my spiral. "Stop."

"But—"

"Come home with me tonight. With all of us."

I blink at him. "What?"

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